Process of preparing matrices for electrotyping.



i a citizen of the United States, and a resi-' UNT-ED srrArrESPATE:NI"oFFcE.` V s n. WELSH, or COLLINGSWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR oroNE-HALF ro -'ILLIIIAM easner.

HARVY EVERT KENDI& OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

rnocnss or ranrnmn MA'rmoEs ron ELECTROTYPING.

Patented Jan. 7, &913.

' Application filed March 30, 1 912. Serial No. 681 465.

i all' whom -iay concem: i a

Be it known that VVILLIAM HJWVELSH,

dent of Collingswood, Ca'mden cOunty, New Jersey, have inVent-ed anImproved Process of Preparng Matrices for Electrotyping, of which thefollowing is a specifica'tion.

My invention relates to the art of electrotyping, and consists ofcertain improvements in the process of preparing the wax matrices forthe' recept-ion of .the electrodeposited shell or coatin'g. The methodof i procedure, well known of course, is to sur- 'face coat. the' waXmatrices With blacklead or plumbago to form one of the poles of anelectric couple in order that the metal may' be electro-depositedthereon. The success-of`the work' depends largely upon the successfulapplication of the, blacklead or the matrices plumbago. By preference,should be blackleaded n such manner as to present a meta'llie luster,and in order to pr'oduce this efi'ectthe blacklead' must be vigorouslyapplied to "the surface of the wax in such manner as to insureabsolutely its application to every part of the matrx.

' The means ordinarily employecl for this which ta p pur mseni-e rapidlyoscillating brushes surface of 'the wax in a very rapid nanner, butrelatively delcately in i order that excessive wear of the brush on'perniittng a relatively violent application of thelbrushes designed toapply the 'blacklead to the surface thereof. 3 I have shown in thedrawing a blackleading machine, inclosed in a cooling chamber ,orcoinpartment, comprising a suitable fra'n 1, having guideways 2, forvertically vreciprocating rods 3, attached to pitmen 4:,

on shafts all of which may be preferably driven in the same direction bythe gearing 6,' indicated bythebroken lines; motion being preferablympart'ed to` such gearing by a belt 7 v from a motor 8. y The upper endsof the rods are Secured at 9 tobrushes 10 and rapid movement of saidrods by the means described causes the brushes to rise and fall'upon theplate and beat into or onto the *surface of the matrix the blacklead Thematrix is ndicated at 11; being pref,-' 'erably mounted upon rollers, orother suit--.

ablewvays, 12; means being provided to reciprocate the matrix. 'Therange of movement may bethat indicated by the dotted lines. The framemay be provided with a switch 1 3 for controlling the'motor. The coolingchamber or compartment 15 may have a door or lid giving access to theblackleading machine. i

Under ordinary circumstances, the waxed 4 plate having type andhalf-tone impressions,

sngly or combined, is placed invthe machine upon suitable means Wherebyit may be traversed 'back and forth; being, sub jected while` moying tothe action of the vertically reciprocating brushes; blacklead orplumbago being dusted upon the surface a of the same as may be requiredto properly cover or coat such surface 'to be subsquently plated withthe deposited metal.

In most electrotyping shops, the temperature i'anges fairly high, and ingeneral the i' consistency ofthe wax isrelatively sotter than it shouldbe to insure the production of a perfect matrix. In such instance, theaction of the brushes tends to fiatten the relatively delicate half-toneimpressions; to break down the edges of the'type recesses -in thematrix; to separate from the matrix mi nute particles of the wax ofwhich they are composed, and to cause the ends of the bris- `tles topick up minute particles, a condition which not only spoils the matrix,but also clogsth'e ends' of the bristles and' renders them substantiallyineflicent. I propose t-herefore toremedy these defects; mprove thequality of the matrix; insure the proper action of the brush, andprolong thelife of ,the same by maintaining the matrix at a relativelylow temperature during the blackleading operation. This may beaccomplished in a number of` ways. A separate apartment, such as arefrigeratoror the like, may receive and serve as a temporary storagereceptacle for a quantity of the 'WaXed lates after they have receivedthe type, hal -tone and the like impressions. These plates are then.taken to the blackleading machine while atsubstantially the temperaturereferred to and they may be kept at such temperature' by cooling meansapplied directly to the blac'kleadin'g machine, or to a compartment inwhich it is located, so thatwhile the blackleading operation isproceeding, the matrix is still cool and relatively hard.

The result ofthe operation of blackleading the cool, rlatively hard waxplate is to impart a high meta-llic luster to the same;

kthe blacklead being beaten onto or into the matrix.

`surface of the same so as to afford a proper surface, insuring thedeposition of metal in a proper manner with respect to the type recessesand half-tone impressons of the coated gaps which might occur at; in orad jacent the Walls of the type recesses or the half-tone impressionsmay be bridgd .with out difiiculty and 'without damage "to theelectrotype. In the formation of a nickel or nickel-steel surface,however, the depsit must take place wholly within the bath and it isimpossible to bridge any gaps which mayoccur in the wall surfaces of thetype impression recesses. This makes it absolutely necessary that thecoating of such walls shall. be complete and this result is attained incarrying out the process forming the subject of my invention.

It will be understood, of course, that the cooling of the matrix shouldnot be carried' to such an eXtent' as to render the wax brittle. Propercooling insures full advantage of the natural tough qualites of the WaX,employed and, other conditions governing to a greater orcless degree, Ihave discovered that thedesirable temperature'is to be found between 45to 60 F.

r I claim: V

l. In the art of electrotyping, the process of preparing matrices,which' consists' in cooling the same to a temperaturenot 'eX- ceeding 60F., maintaining said natrices at such temperature, andsimultaneouslyapplyture.

` 4:. In the art of electrotyping, the process ing blacklead by a seriesof sharp blows .distributed over the surface of the matrix.

2. In the art ofelectrotyping, the process of preparing matrices, wvhichconsists in cooling the same to a temperature not eX- ceecling F.,maintaiping said matrices at such temperature, simultaneously applyingblacklead by a series of sharp blows distributed over the surface of thematrix, and moving said plate while the blacklead is being applied. i

3.'111 the art of electrotyping, the process of preparing matrices,.which consists in maintaining said matrices at a temperature not cxceeding 60 F., and applying the blacklead bya series of sharpblowsdistributed over the surface of the matrix-while the matrix ismaintained at such temperaof preparing matrices, which consists inmaintaining-said matrices at a temperature between 45 and 60 F., andapplying the blacklead by a series of sharp blows distributed over thesurface of the matrix while the matrix is maintained at such cooltemperature. c

5. In"thea`rt of electrotyping, the process which consistsin cooling 'awaxed' type or half-tone inpression plate forning the matrix to atemperature not exceeding 60 FT, applying blacklead to the surfacethereof,

and causing such *blacklead to adhere to the surface by the applicationof blows momentarily applied and distributed over the surface of theplate. 4

G. In the art of electrotyping, the process 'which consists in coolingthe waxed type or half-tone\impression plnte forming the matrix to atemperature between l5 and 60 F., applying blacklead to the surfacethereof,

'and causing such blacklcad to adhee to the surface by the applicationof blows momentarily applied and distributed over the sur-` i face ofthe plate. i

In' testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses WM. H. WELSH.

a l/Vitnesses:

MU'RRAY C. BOYER, WVM. A. BARR.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each; by addressngthe Commissioner of Patenti Washington, I). C."

